Electromagnetic signal actuator



y 1941- J. LANDE 2,248,095

ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNAL ACTUATOR Filed April 11, 1958 I 72 Ll I I I INVENTOR. 77 79 90 Jaao Lande, L 70 :23 I BY WW ATTORNE Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNAL ACTUATOR Jacob Lande, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201,314

1 Claim.

This invention relates to motor vehicle signals, and the general object of the invention is to provide an improved signal particularly useful for motor vehicles which may be easily and correctly read, whereby accidents, caused by misunderstanding of signals on motor vehicles, will be reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a motor vehicle signal which may be operated to display a stop signal before the conventional stop signal light, associated with the tail light, is lighted by depressing the brake pedal and applying the brakes of a motor vehicle, thus enabling the driver of a motor vehicle to give more timely warning that he intends to bring the motor vehicle to a stop.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing which forms apart of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of my signal.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my signal.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of my signal taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of my signal taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of'the electric circuit for operating my signal.

Fig. 6 'is a cross section of the switch for controlling the signal operating circuit shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the solenoids of the operating mechanism of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters in all of the figures, my invention includes generally a casing I, a rotatable signal member 2 mounted in said casing, a tail light 3 mounted in said casing, a stop signal light 4 associated with said tail light, and

operating means 5 for said rotatable signal member 2.

The casing I is preferably mounted on the rear end of a motor vehicle directly above the license plate of said motor vehicle, so that the rays of the tail light 3 and the stop signal light 4 may be projected straight downwardly through the bot tom of said casing I over the face of said license plate. Said casing is divided by a horizontal partition 6 into a lower compartment I and an upper compartment I, in which compartments are respectively mounted the tail light 3 and stop signal light 4, and the rotatable signal 2. The rear of the compartment 1 is covered by a red -28, 33, 3! or 32, and through the glass panel 9 glass panel 8, while the rear of the compartment I is covered by a clear glass panel 9, which glass panels are held in position against the rear flanged edges of the casing I and partition 6 by a cap plate II] which fits against the rear or outer face of said glass panels with its flanged edges II fitted tightly over the rear edges of said casing. The plate Ill is formed with two openings I2 and I3, the opening l2 being located opposite the ;lower compartment I and the opening I3 being located opposite the upper compartment 1', so that the tail light 3and the stop signal lightfl may be observed through said opening I2 and the red glass panel 8, and the rotatable signal member 2 may be observed through said opening I3 and the clear glass panel 9. Openings I4 are also provided in the plate III at the ends respectively of the opening I2, which openings I4 are in the form of hands pointing upwardly to the signal on the rotatable signal member 2 appearing through the opening I3 in the plate I0.

The tail light 3 and the stop signal light 4 are mounted in the ends respectively of a reflector I5 which is secured at its lower edge at I6 to the rear edge of the bottom wall of the casing I and at its upper edge at H to the rear edge of the partition 6, so that said reflector will reflect the rays of the tail light 3 and stop signal light 4 through the red glass panel 8 and the openings 1 I2 and I4 in the plate 9.

The rotatable signal member 2 comprises a foursided elongated box-shaped signal rotor I8, a pair of electric lights I9 and 20, and a light reflector KI. The signal rotor I8 is journaled at its ends -..within the compartment 1 on tubular journals responding corners of said end walls and four glass panels 29, 30, 3| and 32 mounted respectively in opposite corner angle bars 28 and between the end walls 26 and 21, said end walls being formed with bearings'33 and 34 which are turnably fitted on the journals 22 and 23 respectively,

whereby the signal rotor I8 is journaled at its ends. The lights I9 and '20 are secured on the inner ends of the tubular journals 2-2 and 23 respectively, within the reflector 2'I, which reflector is mounted within the signal rotor I8, by means of its end walls 35 and 36 secured on said journals respectively, with the reflector in position to reflect the rays of the lights I9 and 20 rearwardly through any one of the glass panels of the casing and the opening [3 in the rear cap plate In, in the manner hereinafter described. The glass panels 29, 30, 3| and 32 respectively contain suitable words for indicating difierent signals and said panels are of different colors for further distinguishing the different signals. The panel 29 contains the words Watch signal and appears through the opening I 3 in the plate ill and through the glass panel 9 of the casing I, when the motor vehicle travels straight ahead. Said panel 29 is amber in color with the letters of the words Watch signal of a lighter shade of amber than the remainder of the panel, so that the rays of the lights l9 and 20 will appear brighter through said letters than through the remainder of the panel. The panel 30 contains the words I turn right and is green, with the letters of said words a lighter green. The panel 3| contains the words I turn left and is blue, with the letters of said words a lighter shade of blue. The panel 32 contains the word Stop and is red, with the letters of said word a lighter shade of red. The colors of the panels may be changed to suit requirements.

The operating mechanism for the rotatable signal member 2 includes three solenoids 40, 4|

and 42, a rod 43 on which the cores of said solenoids are operatively mounted, a pulley 44 loose on the journal 23 and secured to the end wall 21 of the signal rotor IS, a cord 45 secured at one end to one end of the rod 43 and extending over a guide sheave 46 and over the pulley 44 and secured to said pulley, and a spiral spring 41 surrounding the journal 22 and secured at one end to said journal and at its other end to the end wall 26 of the signal rotor l8, which spring normally holds said signal rotor in position with its panel 29 opposite the glass panel 9 and the opening IS in the plate l0, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, with the words Watch signal exposed through said opening. The sheave 46 is journaled in a bracket 48 depending from the lower side of the partition 8. A tube 49 extends through the coils 50, 5| and 52 of the solenoids 49, 4| and 42, and the cores 53, 54 and 55 of said solenoids are slidably fitted in said tube, while said cores are slidably fitted on the pull rod 43 which extends through said tube. Abutments 56, 51 and 58 are secured on said pull rod for engaging one end of the cores 53, 54 and 55, respectively, whereby the solenoids 40, 4| and 42, when energized, pull the rod- 43 and cord 45 for operating the signal rotor I8. Pins 60, 6| and 62 project from the remote ends of the cores 53, 54 and 55, respectively, through longitudinal slots 53, 64 and 65 respectively, in the tube 49, which pins engage the remote ends of said slOts respectively to limit the turning movement of the signal rotor l8, under the influence of the spring 41, in position with the rotor panel 29 opposite the casing panel 9 and the plate opening l3, exposing the words Watch signal on said rotor panel through said casing panel and said plate opening.

My signal is operated by an electric circuit shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, the power of which is supplied by a battery Hi and said circuit is controlled by a switch 1|. One pole of said battery is connected by a lead 12 to ground 13, and the other pole of said battery is connected by a lead M to a lead 15, which lead connects at one end to one contact 16 of a brake pedal switch 11, which has its other contact 18 mounted on the brake pedal 19 of the motor vehicle on which my signal is mounted. The other end of the lead 75 is connected to a lead 82, which is connected at one end to the contact 83 of the controlling switch H, and at its other end to one contact 84 of the tail light switch 85, the other contact 85 of said tail light switch being connected to a lead 81, which in turn is connected to one terminal of the tail light 3. The other terminal of said tail light is connected to a lead 88 which in turn connects to a lead 89, one end of which connects to ground 90, While its other end connects to one terminal of stop signal light 4. A lead 9| connects the other terminal of said stop signal light 4 and the contact 18 of the brake pedal switch IT. From contact 92 of the controlling switch 7| a lead 93 extends to one end of the coil 5!) of the solenoid 40, the other end of said solenoid coil being connected to a lead 94 which extends to ground 90. From contact 95 to controlling switch H a lead 96 extends to one end of the coil 5| of the solenoid 4|, the other end of said solenoid coil being connected by a lead 91 to the ground lead 94. From contact 98 of controlling switch extends a lead 99 to one end of the coil 52 of solenoid 42, the other end of said solenoid coil being connected by a lead ISO to the ground lead 94. From contact ||i| of a light switch I92 extends a lead I03 which connects to lead 82, the other contact I04 of said switch being connected to a lead I05 which connects to one terminal of the signal light IS. The other terminal of said signal light is connected to a lead I06 which in turn connects to a lead I01 which connects to ground and to one terminal of signal light 20. The other terminal of said signal light is connected to a lead I08 which connects to lead I05.

The controlling switch includes a block of insulation H0, provided with a spherical-shaped socket extending through the upper side of said block, and a spherical switch member ||2 turnabiy fitted in said socket, and extending through the open upper side thereof, there being a ring contact ||3 countersunk in the lower portion of the surface of said spherical switch member ||2 for engaging the contacts 83, 92, and 98, which are countersunk within the surface of the socket in the insulation block 0. The contact 83 is in the form of a ring and is located in the lower portion of the socket III in such position that it is at all times in contact with the ring contact N3 of the switch member H2. The contacts 92, 95 and 98 are spaced above the ring contact 83 and are spaced ninety degrees apart around the socket so that the switch member l2 may be swung three ways to cause the ring contact 3 to bridge the ring contact 83 and any one of said contacts 92, 95 or 98. A knob H4 is formed on the upper side of the switch member H2 for turning the same to operate the switch The block H0 is provided with an opening I IS in its lower side communicating with the lower side of the socket III and with a conical socket I IS in the lower side of the switch member H2, in which opening and socket is positioned a spring which is connected at its lower end, at H8, to the block H0, and at its upper end, at H9, to the switch member ||2, said spring normally holding the switch mem ber H2 in its neutral position out of contact with any of the contacts 92, 95 and 98, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The switch H as shown in Fig. 6 may be mounted on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, the block I |0 being fitted in a socket I20 in the upper side of the hub |2| of the steering wheel.

The operation of my invention as above described is as follows:

Normally the signal rotor I 8 is held in position by spring 41 with its panel 29 and the words thereon Watch signal exposed through the signal opening I3 in plate l0. When the signal is used the switch 102 is closed and the lights l9 and 2|] are lighted, the current passing from battery through leads 14, I5, 82, I03, switch contacts HH and I04, lead I05, light I9, leads I06 and I08, light 20, and lead ID! to ground 90, and from ground 13 through lead 12 back to battery 10.

When the driver of the motor vehicle on which my signal is mounted decides to turn right he grasps the knob H4 of switch H and swings the switch member I I2 to the right until the annular contact H3 bridges the contacts 83 and 92, whereupon current flows from battery 10 through leads 14, and 82, contacts 83, H3 and 92, lead 93, coil 50 of solenoid 40, lead 94 to ground 90, and from ground 13 through lead 12 back to battery 10, and the core 53 is drawn into said solenoid coil against the abutment 56, whereby the rod 43 is moved correspondingly with said core and the signal rotor l8, through said rod, cable 45 and pulley 44, is rotated counter-clockwise 90 degrees (Fig. 4) until the rotor panel 33 is brought opposite the opening 13 in plate l0, so that said panel and the words thereon, I turn right, are exposed through said opening and lighted by the lights 19 and 20, the rotor being limited in its 90 degree counter-clockwise movement by the engagement of the pin 60 on the solenoid core 53 with the left end of the slot 63 (Fig. 7). After the signal is given the switch knob H4 is released and the switch spring H1 swings the switch member H2 back to neutral position as shown in Fig. 6, disengaging contact H3 from contact 92 and breaking the signal rotor circuit, whereupon the spring 41 rotates the rotor l8 backwardly or clockwise 90 degrees, until the panel 29 is again opposite the opening 13, the engagement of the pin 60, on solenoid core 53, with the remote end of the slot 63 limiting said return clockwise movement of the rotor l8 to its normal signaling position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

When the driver of the car decides to turn the car to the left he swings the switch member H2 to the left until the annular contact H3 bridges the contacts 83 and 95, whereupon current flows from battery 13 through leads 14, 15 and 82,

contacts 83, I I3 and 95, lead 96, coil 5| of solenoid 4|, leads 9'! and 94 to ground 93, and from ground 13 through lead 12 back to battery 10, and the core 54. is drawn into said solenoid coil against the abutment 51, whereby the rod 43 is moved correspondingly with said core and the signal rotor, through said rod, cable 45 and pulley 44, is rotated counter-clockwise 180 degrees (Fig. 4) until the rotor panel 3| is brought opposite the opening [3 in plate It], so that said panel and the words thereon, I turn left, are exposed through said opening and lighted by the lights l9 and 20, the rotor i8 being limited in its 180 degree counter-clockwise movement by the engagement of the pin 6| on the solenoid core 54 with the left end of the slot 64 (Fig. 7).

When the driver of the car decides to stop the car he swings the switch member H2 until the annular contact H3 bridges the contacts 83 and 98, whereupon current flows from battery 13 through leads [4, 15 and 82, contacts 83, H3 and 98, lead 99, coil 52 of solenoid 42, leads I00 and 94 to ground 90, and from ground 13 through lead 12 back to battery I0, and the core 55 is drawn into said solenoid coil against the abutment 58, whereby the rod 43 is moved correspondingly with said core and the signal rotor, through said rod cable 45 and pulley 44, is rotated counter-clockwise 2'70 degrees (Fig. 4) until the rotor panel 32 is brought opposite the opening [3 in plate l0, so that said panel and the word Stop are exposed through said opening and lighted by the lights 19 and 2D, the rotor being limited in its said 270 degree counterclockwise movement by the engagement of the pin 62 on solenoid core 55 with the left end of the slot 65 (Fig. 7).

I claim:

In combination, a plurality of solenoids of different lengths, a tube extending through the coils of all of said solenoids in which tube the cores of said solenoids are slidable, a rod extending through said tube and said cores which cores are slidable on said rod, abutments on said rod to be engaged by said cores, respectively, to move said rod, when said solenoids are respectively energized, said tube being provided with longitudinal slots, and pins on said solenoid cores respectively extending through said slots, respectively, for engaging the ends of said slots for limiting the movement of said cores respectively.

JACOB LANDE. 

